DUBLIN, Ireland – October 2, 2008 –Tanáiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment, Mary Coughlan TD announced today (2 October 2008) that Facebook, the world’s leading social networking site, is to establish its international headquarters in Dublin.
Dublin will be the centre for Facebook’s international operations and will provide a range of online technical, sales and operations support to Facebook’s users and customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The Tanáiste welcoming the new headquarters said, “We are delighted Facebook has chosen Ireland for its international headquarters. As a growing global company, this is an exciting investment for our country to host the leader in social networking. Facebook has fast become a worldwide name and it is a terrific endorsement that Ireland can satisfy the needs of such highly innovative and technologically advanced companies as they make critical investments. With our highly skilled workforce, we look forward to providing talented employees to Facebook.”
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg explained, “After exploring various locations throughout the region, we decided Ireland was the best place to establish our new headquarters. As we grow and strive to make Facebook into a place for people around the world to connect and share information, we need local operations to better advance our efforts. The talent pool in Dublin is world-class and recruiting local talent will help us better understand the needs of local users and the regional dynamics that, in turn, can give us better insight into what features matter most.”
Barry O’Leary, CEO IDA Ireland added, “Ireland has always been attractive to innovative global leaders and I’m delighted that an internationally recognized brand name like Facebook has chosen to invest here. This is a clear validation of the advantages Ireland continues to offer to global multinational companies and is an endorsement of the skills and competencies of the Irish to deliver competitive advantages in creative ways.” He added, “I understand their recruitment activities are underway and Irish positions are already posted to their web-site”.
Millions of people around the world use Facebook everyday to help keep up with friends, family and coworkers. People use Facebook to share photos, offer updates on their daily lives and organize activities and events around shared interests.